Pitchfork.



PATENTED DEC. 29, 1903.

L. L; LAYNE.

PITCHFORK.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 1. 1903.

B0 MODEL.

No. 747,986. V

UNITED STATES Patented December 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PITCHFORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 747,986, datedDecember 29, 1903.

Application filed September 1, 1903. Serial No. 171,554. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY L. LAYNE, a citi-- zen of the United States,residing at Golden City, in the county of Barton and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pitchforks; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvementsinpitchforks; and it relates more specifically to that class of forkswhich are designed for usein loading grain provision of a fork of thecharacter described in which rearwardly-projecting tines or spurs areprovided, the same being so arranged as to serve to hold the hay orgrain and prevent the same from sliding off the tines, said prongs orprojections, which are preferably extended downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the tines of the fork, being especially designed for use in pullingthe sheaves into place before inserting the tines of the fork.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the sameconsists in the novel features of construction and in the peculiarcombination, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fullyhereinafter eral views, and in which drawings trated as having threetines, the same being indicated by letters B, C, and E, each of whichtines isprovided with corrugations d, which extend rearward in order toprovide means for holding the hay or grain upon the fork, and saidcorrugations extend over a part of the length of each tine, anddepending from the lower or rear surface of one or more of the tines areprovided spur books or projections E, which extend downward and areslightly curved rearwardly, while a portion of the tines intermediatethe spurs and shank portion of the fork are free from corrugations, anda suitable handle H is secured within the socket of the shank portion ofthe fork.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings 1 have shown the spurs E arranged upon two ofthe tines, adapting the fork for the use of a left-hand workman, whilein Fig. 2 the spurs are shown upon the tines which best adapt the forkfor the use of a right-handed workman.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a means whereby the tines E aredetachably connected with the central time of a fork, so

that in case for any reason it is desiredto use the fork without thesetines this may readily be accomplished by simply removing the spurs. Inthis construction the tines E are cast integral with a hollowcylindrical body portion E to one end of which are integrally securedthe rods E provided at their free ends with books E When it is designedto attach the spurs to the hook, it is simply necessary to pass thecylindrical body portion E over a central tine of the hook and cause thehook ends E of the rods E to engage the outer edges of the base portionof the tines, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. When the device hasbeen 'thus placed upon the fork, it is secured in position by means of aset-screw E From the foregoing description of the invention the use ofthe device will be readily understood. It will be seen that when it isdesigned to bunch grain or hay together preliminary to loading with theuse of the fork the tines E will serve as a rake for this purpose, andit will also be noted that the use of these spurs in pulling togethergrain that has been sheaved will be particularly advantageous. It willbe noted that the hay or grain that is raised by the fork will be heldby the tines or spurs until the same has been elevated, after which byraising the tines slightly the spurs will be disengaged.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pitchfork having tines with rearwardlyprojecting corrugationsextending over a portion of the length of the tines, and havingrearwardly-extending spurs carried by the tines of the fork,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A pitcht'ork having its tines provided with a series of corrugationsand having one or more downward and rearwardly extending spurs attachedto the tines, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

3. A pitchfork having tines provided with series of corrugations, acollar carried on one of said tines having spurs projecting therefrom,as set forth.

4. A pitchfork having tines provided with a series of corrugations, acollar fitted to one of said tines and provided with spurs which projectaway from the tines, hooks fastened to said collar and adapted to engageover the shank portions of two of the tines, and a thumb-screw forholding said collar in place, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

LEROY L. LAYNE.

Witnesses:

G. W. VINCENT, W. R. JEWELL.

